Media item attachment system

Abstract

Disclosed are media attachment systems to enable a user to embed a first media item with a link to a second media item, and distribute the first media item in a message to one or more recipient client devices. For example, the first media item may include a picture or video captured by a user at a client device. The user may generate a message that includes the first media item. In response, a media attachment system may cause display of an interface at the client device that includes an option to attach an address to a second media item to the message. For example, the second media item may include a web page, social media post, picture, or video identified by an address such as a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving an ephemeral message that comprises a first media item at a client device, the first media item comprising a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that identifies a second media item;   calculating a period of time to display the second media item identified by the URL based on a story timer associated with the ephemeral message;   causing display of a presentation of the first media item from the ephemeral message at the client device, the presentation of the first media item including an icon that identifies the second media item;   receiving an input that selects the icon from the client device;   accessing the second media item based on the URL; and   causing display of the second media item at the client device for the period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ephemeral message is accessible within a context of an ephemeral message story includes a plurality of ephemeral messages. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the story timer comprises a story duration parameter, a story participation parameter, and a message receiver identifier. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the story duration parameter determines a duration of time for which the ephemeral message story is accessible. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the story participation parameter determines the duration of time for which the ephemeral message is accessible within the context of the ephemeral message story. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the message receiver identifier indicates an identity of a receiving user. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 removing the ephemeral message responsive to determining that the ephemeral message has exceeded the story participation parameter; and   removing the ephemeral message story responsive to determining that the ephemeral message story has exceeded the story duration parameter.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 a memory; and   at least one hardware processor coupled to the memory and comprising instructions that cause the system to perform operations comprising:   receiving an ephemeral message that comprises a first media item at a client device, the first media item comprising a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that identifies a second media item;   calculating a period of time to display the second media item identified by the URL based on a story timer associated with the ephemeral message;   causing display of a presentation of the first media item from the ephemeral message at the client device, the presentation of the first media item including an icon that identifies the second media item;   receiving an input that selects the icon from the client device;   accessing the second media item based on the URL; and   causing display of the second media item at the client device for the period of time.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the ephemeral message is accessible within a context of an ephemeral message story includes a plurality of ephemeral messages. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the story timer comprises a story duration parameter, a story participation parameter, and a message receiver identifier. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the story duration parameter determines a duration of time for which the ephemeral message story is accessible. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the story participation parameter determines the duration of time for which the ephemeral message is accessible within the context of the ephemeral message story. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the message receiver identifier indicates an identity of a receiving user. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 removing the ephemeral message responsive to determining that the ephemeral message has exceeded the story participation parameter; and   removing the ephemeral message story responsive to determining that the ephemeral message story has exceeded the story duration parameter.   
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations including:
 receiving an ephemeral message that comprises a first media item at a client device, the first media item comprising a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that identifies a second media item;   calculating a period of time to display the second media item identified by the URL based on a story timer associated with the ephemeral message;   causing display of a presentation of the first media item from the ephemeral message at the client device, the presentation of the first media item including an icon that identifies the second media item;   receiving an input that selects the icon from the client device;   accessing the second media item based on the URL; and   causing display of the second media item at the client device for the period of time.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the ephemeral message is accessible within a context of an ephemeral message story includes a plurality of ephemeral messages. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the story timer comprises a story duration parameter, a story participation parameter, and a message receiver identifier. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the story duration parameter determines a duration of time for which the ephemeral message story is accessible. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the story participation parameter determines the duration of time for which the ephemeral message is accessible within the context of the ephemeral message story. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 removing the ephemeral message responsive to determining that the ephemeral message has exceeded the story participation parameter; and   removing the ephemeral message story responsive to determining that the ephemeral message story has exceeded the story duration parameter.